Daniel Sokol writes in Telegraph about problems with PhD assessment in the UK

In a piece for The Telegraph, published on 13th August 2026, Alpha Academic Appeals's Daniel Sokol examines what the controversy surrounding Professor Jason Arday’s PhD reveals about the reliability of doctoral assessment.

Drawing on 15 years’ experience acting for PhD students, Sokol argues that the examination system is far from infallible: weak theses can pass while stronger candidates sometimes fail. He highlights concerns including the limited remuneration of examiners, inconsistencies in standards and the reluctance of some academics to fail candidates because of the potential consequences and appeals that may follow.